The Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych, the ninth seed, walks off the court after retiring with a shoulder injury Saturday during his third-round match against 20th-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia.

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A rash of mid-match withdrawals — 14 and counting as of Saturday afternoon — has pushed the U.S. Open into record territory. Never have more players retired at a Grand Slam tournament in the post-1968 Open era.

And it hasn't even been that hot.

"We've had way hotter, more physical U.S. Opens in the past," says veteran doubles specialist Mark Knowles. "I think it's a bit strange."

Retirements plague U.S. Open

There have been a record 14 retirements in the men’s and women’s singles combined at this year’s U.S. Open so far. The retirements and reasons (through Marcel Granollers retirement) are:

The Swiss No. 3 not only goes deep in every major (including a record 23 consecutive semifinal showings), he is playing his 48th straight Grand Slam event, more than any active man or woman.

In 973 matches, including Saturday's third-round defeat of Marin Cilic, Federer, 30, has never retired in a match.

"For me it is shocking to see so many retirements," said the 16-time major winner, who said injury, bad luck and perhaps a lack of will are contributing to the surge.

"For me it doesn't matter how bad I'm feeling, I will be out there and giving it a try, because you never know what's gonna happen."

Many pros say that they show up in New York tired and with one ailment or another — a situation exacerbated by the heat and cement of the North American hard-court swing in July and August.

"I think most of the players, every day they wake up there's something that they feel," said No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki after beating American Vania King 6-2, 6-4. "Maybe they feel they have a sore butt or they feel their finger or their arm or whatever."

Wozniacki, who reached the fourth round Saturday, adds that the emphasis on off-court training also takes a toll.

"We do so much off-court work and I do so much fitness that I'm preventing all the injuries before they happen," said the Dane, who is among the WTA's most durable players.

There are those that just don't want to chance it, says the USA's Irina Falconi, a 21-year-old qualifier who lost in the third round to No. 22 Sabine Lisicki of Germany.

"I'm sure they just don't want to risk a long-term injury," she says. "Prevention is the best medicine."

Mats Wilander, the former pro and television commentator, believes pros have gone soft and retire instead of toughing it out. Wilander, who won seven majors including the 1988 U.S. Open, never retired during his career.

"They need to suck it up by a long shot," says the Swede. "I just think it's a lack of respect for the crowd, the sport and everybody involved."

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